Are You Writing for Keywords… or for Search Intent?

Let me ask you something, honestly

When you sit down to write a blog post, what’s your first thought?

Is it:

• “What keyword am I targeting?”
• “How many words should this be?”
• “How can I rank this?”

If so, you’re not alone. Most of us were taught to focus on keywords first. And while keywords matter, they’re not what actually gets you ranked.

The real game-changer is search intent. Once I understood that, the way I approached blogging completely changed.

The Hard Truth About Ranking

Google doesn’t rank articles. It ranks answers.

Every time someone types a question into Google, they’re looking to:

• Solve a problem
• Compare options
• Learn something specific
• Make a decision

If your post doesn’t directly satisfy that intent, no amount of keyword optimization or backlinks will help you.

Even good writing, perfect grammar, and consistent posting can’t fix this.

The Mistakes Most Bloggers Make

We often focus on:

• Word count
• Keyword density
• Publishing more content
• “Just being consistent”

But the real question should be:

👉 What does the searcher REALLY want right now?

Example: someone searches “Best budget microphone for YouTube”. They don’t want:

• A 1,000-word intro about audio history
• Your personal story
• A vague overview

They want:

• Clear recommendations
• Quick pros & cons
• Price ranges
• Who it’s best for

If your post doesn’t deliver that immediately, your bounce rate rises… and Google notices.

3 Practical Ways to Fix It

Here’s what I’m doing now to make my posts actually rank:

1️⃣ Study the Top 5 Results First

Look at what’s already ranking. Notice the format, style, and structure.

2️⃣ Answer the Main Question Early

Deliver value in the first 10–15% of the post — don’t bury it.

3️⃣ Remove Fluff

If it doesn’t support the intent of the keyword, cut it. Simplicity beats filler.

The Shift That Changes Everything

Instead of asking:

“How many posts should I publish this month?”

I now ask:

“Does this post fully satisfy the searcher better than what’s currently ranking?”

One simple question like this changes how you write — and over time, it changes your results.

Your Turn 👇

When you write your next blog post, will you:

• Focus only on keywords?
• Or focus on giving readers the exact answer they’re searching for?

Share your experience in the comments. Let’s help each other improve and finally see the results we’re working for!